University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire (UHSCNL) is marking the successful first year of its Frailty Strategy for 2024-29, aimed at helping older people across Lanarkshire maintain independence, good health, and remain living comfortably at home for longer.
Frailty is an age-related condition where the body gradually loses its reserves, increasing vulnerability to minor illness and events. It affects around 12% of those over 65 and more than half of those over 85, often resulting in syndromes like falls, immobility, delirium, incontinence, and medication-related harm.
Devised and run by UHSCNL on behalf of NHS Lanarkshire, significant strides have been made since the strategy’s launch last year, delivering a range of innovative initiatives designed specifically to support people experiencing frailty or those at risk.
Members of the North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board heard this week (Wednesday 19 March), that these initiatives include establishing dedicated Frailty Units across Lanarkshire’s three hospitals, and ensuring older patients receive specialist, timely care.
The health and social care partnership has also introduced the Carers Academy, a collaborative project with Alzheimer’s Scotland, which provides crucial support to carers and families of people living with dementia.
One key innovation, the Motherwell Independent Living project, focuses on reablement – helping people regain independence and confidence at home following illness or injury. Meanwhile, the Active Wards initiative is actively reducing physical and mental health decline among hospitalised patients by encouraging regular activities tailored to individual needs.
The Frailty Strategy also emphasises using technology and partnership working to improve early frailty identification, enabling more proactive support. Through close collaboration with local communities and academic partners, UHSCNL is leading innovations to identify frailty earlier and manage it effectively in people’s homes and communities.
Councillor Anne McCrory, chair of North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board, said: “We deeply appreciate the dedication and hard work of all staff involved in delivering this vital strategy and the benefits it brings to people across Lanarkshire.
“Their efforts are ensuring older people in Lanarkshire can live independently, comfortably, and confidently at home for as long as possible. This strategy not only enhances health outcomes but also respects the dignity and independence of individuals and their families.
“We’re committed to ensuring the people of Lanarkshire have the best possible quality of life and positive health outcomes. Looking ahead, University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire will continue building on these successes by improving public access to frailty information, engaging further with local communities, and delivering safe and sustainable healthcare.”
The Frailty Strategy can be viewed at About Us | Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire Integration Joint Board, through its Strategic Commissioning Plan, decides how health and social care services in North Lanarkshire are planned, delivered and monitored. These community services are then delivered by University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire.
